Shoe

ABSTRACT

The shoe according to the invention has a closure system which provides at least a first and a second tightening element portion, which tightening element portions are fixed in a lateral region of a front shoe region and cross over the instep, wherein one of the two tightening element portions, or a tightening element coupled therewith, is guided around a heel region of the shoe from one side of the shoe to the other and is coupled with the other tightening element portion via a closure mechanism. The tightening element portion guided around the heel region of the shoe from one side of the shoe to the other, or the corresponding tightening element, is guided from one side of the shoe to the other beneath the heel of a user by means of guide means.

The invention relates to a shoe, in particular a cycling shoe, having a closure system which has at least two tightening element portions which cross over the instep.

Such a shoe is known, for example, from DE 93 07 857 U1. It has a first and a second tightening element portion, which tightening element portions are fastened in a lateral, front shoe region and cross over the instep, wherein one of the two tightening portions, or a tightening element coupled therewith, is guided back around the heel on the outside of the shoe. A central rotary closure is provided in that region, which closure is coupled with the two tightening element portions in order to open and close the shoe. The crossing tightening element portions ensure that the foot is held securely in that region, and the rotary closure allows the shoe to be opened and closed quickly.

A similar concept is known from JP 10042902 A1, wherein the individual tightening element portions are opened and closed by a ratchet closure instead of a rotary closure.

If the shoe is used in particular as a cycling shoe, very high demands are made of a firm fit of the foot in the shoe. Owing to the ever alternating tensile and compressive stresses between the foot and the shoe during pedaling, an optimum fit of the foot in the shoe is very important, since each relative movement leads to a loss of force transmission and can ultimately also lead to blistering or pressure points.

Accordingly, the object underlying the invention is to provide a shoe, in particular a cycling shoe, which is distinguished by an improved fit or hold of the shoe.

The object is achieved according to the invention by the features of claim 1.

The shoe according to the invention has a closure system which provides at least a first and a second tightening element portion, which tightening element portions are fixed in a lateral region of a front shoe region and cross over the instep, wherein one of the two tightening element portions, or a tightening element coupled therewith, is guided around a heel region of the shoe from one side of the shoe to the other and is coupled with the other tightening element portion via a closure mechanism. The tightening element portion guided around the heel region of the shoe from one side of the shoe to the other, or the corresponding tightening element, is guided from one side of the shoe to the other beneath the heel of a user by means of guide means.

As a result of the special construction, the foot of the user is pulled backwards and downwards into the heel. By coupling the two tightening element portions via the closure mechanism, the shoe is individually adjusted to the shape of the foot and the pressure of the closure mechanism is distributed evenly over the forefoot. The two tightening element portions which cross over the instep give the foot a secure hold in that region so that, in particular when cycling, pulling up on the pedals permits direct force transmission. If the shoe closes properly at the instep and the foot is seated firmly in the heel, the user perceives the shoe as “fitting”.

The two tightening element portions which cross over the instep and are guided around beneath the heel, and the closure mechanism which connects the two tightening element portions, allow the foot to be held in the shoe in an optimised manner, in particular for cycling shoes.

Further embodiments of the invention are the subject-matter of the dependent claims.

According to a preferred embodiment, the closure mechanism is formed by a rotary closure, which cooperates, for example, with a cable or cord.

According to a preferred embodiment, the tightening element coupled with one of the tightening element portions is formed by at least one cable or cord which is guided via the guide means from one side of the shoe to the other, where it cooperates with the closure mechanism. The closure mechanism can in particular be fixed to the other of the two tightening element portions. The two tightening element portions which cross over the instep are preferably formed by pull tapes.

The guide means are advantageously arranged in a sole or a heel of the shoe. In particular, a heel that is releasably connected to the shoe can be provided in the heel region of the shoe, the heel delimiting a cavity in which the guide means, in particular guide rollers, are arranged. The guide means can, however, also be integral with the heel. The heel and the guide means can in particular be formed by an injection moulded plastics part.

Although a shoe having the features described above already ensures a very good hold for the foot, a further improvement can be achieved by a strap which is adjusted to the instep height and to the width of the foot of a user. Furthermore, an insole which is individually adjusted to the foot can also additionally improve the hold of the foot. To that end, the foot of the user can be scanned in order to be able to adjust the strap and the insole exactly.

Further embodiments of the invention will be explained in greater detail by means of the following description and the drawing.

In the drawing

FIG. 1 is a side view of the outside of the shoe according to the invention,

FIG. 2 is a top view of the shoe,

FIG. 3 is a side view of the inside of the shoe,

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the shoe,

FIG. 5 is a detail view in the region of the guiding in the heel region,

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a guide roller, and

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of a lateral guide eyelet.

The shoe shown in FIG. 1-4 is in particular a cycling shoe and consists in the conventional manner of a sole 1 and a shaft 2. The shoe further provides a closure system which has a first and a second tightening element portion 3, 4, which tightening element portions are fixed in a lateral region of a front shoe region 5 and cross over the instep (FIG. 2). Coupled to the first tightening element portion is a tightening element 6 in the form of a double-stranded cord 6 a, 6 b, which is guided in the heel region of the shoe beneath the heel from the inner side of the heel shown in FIG. 3 to the outer side shown in FIG. 1, where it cooperates with a closure mechanism 8 in the form of a rotary closure. The rotary closure is attached to one end of the second tightening element portion 4. The tightening element 6 in the form of a double-stranded cord is releasably hooked onto a hook 9 attached to the first tightening element portion 3. The double-stranded cord 6 a, 6 b is wound up or unwound in the closure mechanism 8 in the form of a rotary closure in a manner known per se in order thus to close or open the shoe. In order to make the shoe easier to take off, the tightening element 6 can be unhooked from the hook 9 once the opening movement of the closure mechanism 8 has taken place, so that the two tightening element portions 3, 4 can thus be lifted even further away from the instep of the foot. In the embodiment shown, an additional closure element 10 is provided in the front shoe region 5, which additional closure element is formed, for example, by a Velcro strip and allows the shoe to be adjusted in the toe region.

In the embodiment shown, the shoe has a heel 11 which is releasably connected to the sole of the shoe and delimits a cavity in which guide means 12, 13, 14 for guiding the double-stranded cord 6 a and 6 b are arranged. One of the guide means 12 is shown on an enlarged scale in FIG. 6. The guide means are preferably formed by rotatably mounted guide rollers which have on their outer side a groove 12 a in which the cord 6 a or 6 b is guided. The heel 11 is fixed to the sole 1 by means of one or more screws, for example. However, the heel 11 does not need to be opened for normal use of the shoe. The heel will only be removed for maintenance purposes.

In order to ensure, on the outside of the shoe shown in FIG. 1, that the double-stranded cord entering the closure mechanism 8 is aligned exactly, guide eyelets 15 are fixed laterally to the shaft 2 (FIG. 1 and FIG. 7). The double-stranded cord 6 a, 6 b is both wound and unwound by the closure mechanism 8. However, within the scope of the invention, the tightening element 6 can of course also be in single-stranded form. 

1. A shoe having a closure system which has at least a first and a second tightening element portion, which tightening element portions are fixed in a lateral region of a front shoe region and cross over the instep, wherein one of the two tightening element portions, or a tightening element coupled therewith, is guided around a heel region of the shoe from one side of the shoe to the other and is coupled with the other tightening element portion via a closure mechanism, characterised in that the tightening element portion guided around the heel region of the shoe from one side of the shoe to the other, or the tightening element, is guided from one side of the shoe to the other beneath the heel of a user by means of guide means.
 2. The shoe according to claim 1, characterised in that the closure mechanism is formed by a rotary closure.
 3. The shoe according to claim 1, characterised in that the rotary closure cooperates with a cable or cord.
 4. The shoe according to claim 1, characterised in that the tightening element coupled with one of the tightening element portions is formed by at least one cable or cord which is guided via the guide means from one side of the shoe to the other, where it cooperates with the closure mechanism.
 5. The shoe according to claim 1, characterised in that the closure mechanism is fixed to one of the two tightening element portions.
 6. The shoe according to claim 1, characterised in that the tightening element portions are pull tapes.
 7. The shoe according to claim 1, characterised in that the guide means are arranged in a sole or a heel of the shoe.
 8. The shoe according to claim 1, characterised by a heel in the heel region of the shoe that is releasably connected to the shoe, wherein the heel delimits a cavity in which the guide means are arranged.
 9. The shoe according to claim 1, characterised in that at least some of the guide means are formed by guide rollers.
 10. The shoe according to claim 1, characterised by a strap which is adjusted to the instep height and to the width of a foot of a user. 